secondary education than women; a possible explanation for the significant finding that more men [16%] had professional employment than women [12%]. The respondents came from 8 provinces of the country; namely Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland Central, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland West, Masvingo and Matebeleland South. In terms of age, 98 of the respondents were under 30 while 124 were over 30. A significantly larger number of the single people [65%] were under 30, with a significantly higher number of men [4.7%] under 30. There are also, according to the survey, many more people who are under 30 [57%] who completed secondary education as compared to those who are over 30 years of age [48%]. The numbers of those who are under 30 years of age were significantly higher in the following sections; those with administrative work [6%], those who are in artisan work [12%], students [22%] and those who are unemployed [21%]. This shows that it is youth who are predominantly unable to secure formal employment and have either become resourceful or remained largely unemployed. Class is understood to mean the quality of life that the respondents were likely leading based on three factors namely; income capacity, level of education and form of employment. None of the respondents were from among the elites. 107 were middle class while 115 were from the working class. 4. FINDINGS 4.1 Perceptions of sexual violence 4.1.1 The meaning of rape The definition of rape by law states that rape occurs when (1) a male person (2) knowingly has sexual intercourse or anal sexual intercourse (3) with a female person and (4) at the time of the intercourse the female person has not consented to it; and (5) he knows that she has not consented to it or realises that there is a real risk or possibility that she may not have consented to it but goes ahead with it.19 Asked what rape means to them, [61%] of men and [70%] of women displayed a clear understanding of rape; reflecting all the essential elements of rape in their definition; that it is forced sexual intercourse between a man and a woman without the consent of the woman. This understanding of rape also translated into responses given to the question of whose fault it is if a woman gets raped, with [76%] of the male and [75%] of the female respondents indicating that it is always the fault of the perpetrator and not that of the victim. It was interesting however to note that education was not that important a factor in determining who had a clear understanding of rape. 67% of those without tertiary education and [64%] of those who had tertiary education had a very clear understanding of rape. A greater number of people with tertiary education [82%] than without [72%] thought that the perpetrator is always to blame where rape is committed. The majority of those under 30 [63%] and above 30 [67%] showed a clear understanding of rape although a significantly higher number of people under the age of 30 [14%] showed no understanding of rape as compared to those who are above 30 [7%]. Although the majority of the sample across the ages, [74%] for those under 30 and 85% for those above 30 thought that it was the perpetrator’s fault if rape occurred, a significantly higher number of people who are below 30 [8%] than those above 30 [6%] believed that it is the rape victim’s fault if she is raped. Those under 30’s [5%] also believed that it is both the rapists and victims fault more than the over 30’s [1%]. 19 The Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act [Chapter9:23] in Section 65.